6.2: How to Write a Thesis Statement

No matter what kind of essay you are writing—short or long—your thesis statement is one of the hardest sentences to write. A good thesis statement clearly explains the purpose of your paper. It helps guide and organize your whole argument. Without a strong thesis, your essay can seem weak, confusing, or uninteresting.

One good way to create a thesis statement is to start with a question. Then, turn your answer into your thesis statement. This method works even if your topic is difficult or complex.

Asking Questions to Create a Thesis

You can make a strong thesis by starting with a question and then answering it. Here are some examples:

• Question: What are the benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade classroom?
  Thesis: Computers give fourth graders a head start in learning technology and science.

• Question: Why is the Mississippi River important in Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn?
  Thesis: The river shows both separation and progress, dividing people but also helping Huck and Jim become friends.

• Question: Why do people get angry at vegans, feminists, and other groups who talk about morals?
  Thesis: Many people think members of these groups judge others as “lesser,” which leads to anger and conflict.

Matching Your Thesis to Essay Type

Your thesis should match the purpose of your paper. Different essays have different goals:

• Analytical Essay: Breaks something down to explain it.
  Example: The conflict between generations in King Lear causes much of the play’s drama and violence.

• Expository Essay: Explains or teaches about a topic.
  Example: New ideas in the 1800s, like Positivism and Marxism, changed people’s focus from religion to real-world science.

• Argumentative Essay: Makes a strong point and tries to change the reader’s mind.
  Example: Barack Obama’s choices helped America recover from its problems in the early 2000s.

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Always match your thesis statement to the kind of essay you are writing. This will help your reader understand your purpose and main idea.

Ensure Your Thesis Can Be Proved

Tips for Creating a Thesis

Do not start with your thesis and then try to find facts to support it. Instead, your thesis should come from your research and thinking. Choose a thesis statement you can truly support with evidence.

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Good Thesis Examples:

• By accepting and questioning difficult issues, Blake creates his own deep faith—even if he sometimes doubts. His poems only show true faith when they first lose it.

• If a society ignores history and the future, it cannot avoid becoming stuck and unable to grow.

• If we read "Ode to a Nightingale" with modern ideas, we see Keats thinks poetry is always changing—not fixed or strict.

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Bad Thesis Examples:

• “The wrong people won the American Revolution.” (This is too opinion-based and hard to prove.)

• “The theory of genetic inheritance is the binding theory of every human interaction.” (This is much too broad and cannot be shown with evidence.)

• “Paul Harding’s novel Tinkers is a cry for help from a clearly depressed author.” (You would need a lot of personal proof to support this—most students cannot get this evidence.)

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Your thesis should be focused, clear, and possible to support with facts and examples.Do not write your thesis first and then look for information to support it later. A good thesis is something you discover after doing your research and thinking about the topic. Always choose a thesis you can actually support with real evidence.

Good Thesis Examples:

• By facing contradictions and asking tough questions, Blake creates his own kind of faith. His poems need to lose faith at first to find it again.

• If a society ignores both its history and its future, it will eventually stop moving forward and become stuck.

• When we look at “Ode to a Nightingale” in a modern way, we see that Keats believed poetry can change and mean different things, not just one fixed meaning.

Bad Thesis Examples:

• “The wrong people won the American Revolution.” (This is difficult to prove and too much based on opinion.)

• “The theory of genetic inheritance is the key to every human relationship.” (This is way too broad and cannot be fully explained.)

• “Paul Harding’s novel Tinkers is really a cry for help from a depressed author.” (Unless you have strong proof or interviews, you can’t show this is true.)

Remember, a good thesis is focused, clear, and can be supported with facts or examples.

Get the Sound Right

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Making Your Thesis Statement Clear

Your thesis statement should be easy to recognize. Use strong, clear language and decisive words. Words like “because” help show your main point and reason.

Examples of good thesis statements:

• Because of William the Conqueror’s campaign in England, the country gained the power and culture needed to build the British Empire.

• Hemingway changed literature by making simple writing and honest language the new normal.

Where to Put Your Thesis Statement

Put your thesis statement at the beginning of your essay, usually at the end of the first paragraph or in your introduction. This helps readers know your main idea right away.

Keep It Short

Your thesis statement should be one or two sentences long. It should be clear, specific, and show the topic and your opinion or position.